Package



C. T. DAVIS.

PACKAGE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9. 1920.

Patented Aug. 16, 1921 each needle when the pack Wild A further object is to umrao STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES '1. DAVIS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y;

PACKAGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 9, 1920. Serial 1T0. 364,585.

It is often deslrable and sometimes necesy unsuitable for use in many types of package,

as well as in packaging certain :types of articles, because of the fragility or other characteristic ofthe transparent materials known to those skilled in the art as suitable for this purpose.

An object of my invention is to provide a package so constructed that the nature of the article contained therein can readily be ascertained from the outside of the package without opening it, and without depending upon the use of transparent or translucent material.

I accomplish this object broadly by employing, in the construction of the package, a material capable of receiving ing an impression of the article itself, the impression being visible from ture of the article in the package.

employ such an impression-retaining mate 'al which is relatively strong, tough, and resistant to severe usage. In the specific embodiment disclosed,

another object is to employ such a material that is resistant to the effects of moisture Or heat, or both.

Another object is to provide a package for surgical needles and similar articles which will insure the complete sterility of age .is opened. 1 e the necessity for thorough sterilizathe outside of the package and forming a guide to the nafect sterilization. To avoid the danger of such failures, especially in connection with surgical needles, I h ient practical package which will preserve each needle in complete sterility up to the moment when it is actually needed. complish this object, I hermetically sealed pack A vcommon method of sterilizing instruments, including needles, is to boil them in.

water just prior to use, and

les are ordinarily boiled for each operation, those not used are likely to rust, even though great care is rying and packing them subsequent to boiling. Atmospheric dampness, particularly in the tropical climates, also provides a prolific cause of rust, making it diflicult to maintain needles in the necessary polished, bright condition.

as several neerust by providing a package for surgical needles, in which they may readily be boiled in the usual Way without contacting with the-moisture of the sterilizing bath, thus permitting repeated boiling of a needle package Without any danger of rusting the needle, also adapted to protect the inclosed needle against external moisture of all kinds, regardless of how long the fore use and irrespective tions.

Surgical needles are manufactured in a great variety of styles, varyingboth in size and contour, each being adapted to the needs and preferences of surgeons in performing particular operations; It is also customary to identify various sizes and shapes by style and size numbers. In the usual routine of preparing for an operation, the surgeon selects needles of the desiredtype and subjects them to a sterilizing process, such as boiling. This practice renders the proof climatic condi- Patented Aug. 16', 1921.

needle is kept beitcularly difiicult, as such a package, in the ordinary well-known forms thereof, would prevent the surgeon from ascertaining the exact type of needle therein, except by di- '-rect inspection; and it will be apparent that .dle is often sterilized several v desirable to retain each needle in its packciently age until it is required for use, after sterilization.

A primary object of my invention is to overcome these difliculties by providing a package of such a nature that the exact style of needle therein may be readily and directly ascertained without opening the package. I preferably accomplish this object by constructing the needle container from a material in which the outline of the inclosed needle may be impressed, permitting the surgeon to ascertain-the style of needle at a glance.

I also provide a package adapted to carry suitable style and size designations suffiplain and large to be easily and rapid read by the user, without requiring careful scrutiny of the needle itself to distinguish identifying marks thereon.

further object of my invention is to produce a package which combines the vari out characteristics above outlined.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an envelop blank with a needle positioned thereon.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a completed packa e.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional View of oneform of package.

Fig. 4 is a similar view of another form.

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary longitudinal sections showing additional forms of closure.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view through a package and press.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a needle passed through a registering sheet, and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a modified form of package, parts being broken away, and in section.

I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention which includes acontainer formed entirely of impression-holding material, and

I have shown a surgical needle as the article packaged therein; but it is to be understood a that my invention is not limited either to the type of container shown, nor to the packou'sly various forms of package may be con age containing a surgical needle, as obvistructed, consisting wholly or partly of impression-holding material, and'a substantial variety of articles may be advantageously packaged therein.

I have disclosed a container of the envelop t pe, which may be constructed from a slngle sheet 11, as shown in Fig. 1, folded alon its median line to inclose the needle 12 t e superposed edges of sheet 11 being connected to each other to form an envelop 13, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The envelop may consist entirely of a material whose distinctive characteristic is its ability to receive and retain an impression on an article in the package, such as needle 12. Such impression-holding material is also of such a nature that this impression may readily be produced in relatively permanent form by pressing the material over parts of the article which are adjacent thereto. Various materials possess these qualities, such as certain forms of prepared paper and other fibrous sheet material, gutta percha, and

celluloid or other pyroxylin compounds or substitution products, when warm; but I have found that thin sheet metaLsuCh as metal foil, is particularly suitable.

Various methods may be employed for.

able substance therebetween.

In Fig. 4, I have disclosed a marginal scam in which the edges are inturned and pressed together to form a tight closure, either with or without suitable connecting material, such as solder or adhesive.

In Fig. 5, I have shown a marginal sealing bead 14, which may be composed of solder, spelter, wax, or other suitable substance.

In the form shown in Fig. 6, the edges are connected by a layer of adhesive 15, which may be either metallic, such as solder, or non-metallic, a great variety of such adhesives beingwell-known to those skilled in the art.

Heat with or without pressure may be employed in connection with the closures illustrated, as well as. with other forms of closures.

The needle-12 may obviously be merely placed loosely in an envelop 13, or it may be fixed in position therein in any desired way, as by fastening it by adhesive to one or both sides of the envelop. A convenient method for maintaining the needle in a, central position, in which there is a minimum of danger the needle therethrough.

adapted to hold a needle in place in the such as that shown in F1 2, or they may tached thereto in various ways, as by passing Suitable material, and the needle may be atments may be completely sealed if desired, forming practically a plurality of envelo s connected in series.

For this purpose, t e

It will be apparent that while I have spetop and bottom of the envelop may be transcifically disclosed a positioning member verselyconnected to form a dividing zone 19, any preferred method being employed package, the nature of the article which is connect the to and bottom of the envelop packaged will determine the construction of in such zone. t e positioning member and the method of sive or solder be fused by member in sheet form. 4

Obviously, the impression of the packaged or instance, suitable adhemay be used, or the parts may heat with or Without the emnot intend to be 11 ited to a positioning ployment of anintermediate flux.

his arrangement, each compartment may be separated from the others when it is de- With article on the sheet 11 may be made in a sired to use the needle therein, as by severgreat many ways, either before or after the ing the envelop within zone 19. If desired, sheet is embodied in a completed or semisuitable indentations or perforations 20 ma completed package.

One convenient method run lengthwise of each zone to facilitate o r. accomplishing this object is shown in separation of the compartments. A prin- Flg. 7, wherein the formed envelop is pressed clpal advantage of this construction is the between suitable members, one of which is facility with which a number of needles may formed of yieldable material. It will readbe sterilized at once III a unitary package,

1ly be evident, however, that both of such and each needle, sealed in its com artment, members may be yieldable so as to produce may be removed from the remain er of the a similar impression on both sides of the package without disturbing the sealing package, and also that such impression may either of such compartment or of the re- While packages constructed according to The form of around needle 12, regardless ofits contour.

g compartments.

It will be noted paration may be readily acc0mth the scissors which are always perating equipment, and which ed at the same time as the hen the envelop 13 is composed of foil, my invention may be manufactured in a it has been found that the foil will hug the great variety needle closely, producing an accurate deexact nature tailed reproduction of its exact contour, been so devis of ways, depending upon their the specific form disclosed has which will persist after considerable hanreadily be freed from internal moisture and. dling of the envelop, permitting the surgeon completely sterilized. One effective method to ascertain readily and rapidly the exact of convenlence in cataloguing the packaged arter are completely sealed, and subject the ticles, such as needles of varlous sizes and embryo packa es to suitable dry heat in an roducing this result is to place the es within their envelops before the latshapes, and in identifying individual needles oven to comp etely drive-off any vestige of 1n reference to such catalogues, suitable idenmoisture therein.

The packages are then tifying marks may be placed on the envelop sealed, insuring the needles against rust rein any desired way, as by stamping, printgardless of the climate or repeated immering or impression. In the form illustrated sions in boiling water. While the usual boilin Fig. 2, numerals have been impressed by 1ng or other methods may be relied on for suitable dies in the envelop material, desterilizing, I prefer to, sterilize the packnoting size and style.

ages after they 'have been sealed, the claus- While I have shown and described a single tro thermal method being eminently adaptarticle, such as needle 12, inclosed in an ed to be employed for this purpose. Accordindividual package, it will be apparent that ing to this method, the sealed packages are a number of such articles may be located maintained at a suitable heat, such as 160 therein, the impression of one or more of the O for several hours, thus insuring the comarticles being carried by the envelop. Such plete and permanent sterility of the packe interior and the needles therein. .This ect is substantially aided by the employbe attached to a suitable positioning element of metal foil in the container, as the ment,:such as sheet 18. Another desirable arrangement, however,

is'illustrated in Fi 9, in which each needle which the foil "'12, and, if desired is located within a separate compartment foil readlly conducts heat to the needle. the specific construction in is pressed tightly against the a positioning sheet 18, meedle further f It will be evident that I h acllltates this operation.

ave devised a of said envelop 13., Each of said compartpackage so constructed and arranged that it may be handled in the standard routine of operating technique in the same way as the ordinary needle. However, my package, in the specific form disclosed, is of such a nature that it permits reatly improved technique in handling t e needle at the time when it is needed by. the surgeon, practically insuring complete sterility up to the moment when the needle enters the tissues.

In accordance with this improved aseptic technic the package is preferably sterilized in the usual way with the other instruments. When a needle is required during the operation, the surgeon or his assistant with sterile hands picks up a sterile needle package and, grasping the envelop and the inclosed needle between the thumb and index finger of the left hand below the eye of the needle, tears away with the thumb and index finger of the right hand enough of the envelop to expose the needle eye. Then with his sterile right hand, the surgeon or his.assistant, still holding the needle protected by the major part of the foil envelop in his left hand, threads'a sterile suture with his sterile right hand through the eye of the sterile needle, which is withdrawn from the remainder of its envelop after threading, readyfor use in stitching the wound. It will be apparent that when employed in this way, my package insures the sterility of the needle up to the moment of actual use, and permits the needle to be completely threaded before the major portion thereof is exposed, eliminating danger of contamination during thread ing and reducing to a minimum the handling of the exposed needle prior to use. However, my invention is not necessarily limited to specific envelops which are necessarily adapted to be used in the exact way outlined, but includes obvious variations in construction adapted to meet special conditions.

While my package is eminently suitable for use in the fully equipped operatling room, it will beevident that it is also particularly advantageous for emergency operations, where the available protection against infection is scanty, as needles packaged in accordance with my invention are completely sterile regardless of the treatment to which the package is subjected up to the time when the package is ruptured. Consequently,

such needles may be carried on emergency calls, and used with comparative. safety without previous sterilization.

A further advantage of my invention is the facility with which the package may be 4 constructed, its simplicity and compactness.

While I have described my invention as comprising a package, it will be apparent that such invention also includes the method of preparing the package.

Furthermore, while various materials may be employed for the envelop, I have found that metal foil is particularly advantageous,

as it is readily manipulated and sealed. Moreover, it is not affected by standard methods of sterilization, and offers complete and permanent protection against moisture.

In particular, however, it is especially suitable for producing and preserving the contour of the needle by pressing the foil tightly about an inclosed needle, and will likewise receive and retain the impression of style and size numbers. The foil is also readily torn to expose the needle, and facilitates an aseptic technique in handling similar to the one above outlined. Furthermore, the foil is relatively thin and compact, facilitating the packing and handling of the envelops. v

While my invention, in the specific form shown, is particularly devised and adapted to surgical needles it will be apparent that the general type shown herein is also eminently suitable for packaging a varlety of other articles, both those in which it is necessary to provide a container having powers of resistanceto heat, moisture, chemical action or any combination thereof, and those in which it is only necessary or desirableto employ a container carrying the outward impression of the article.

It is also noted that where sheet metal is employed for the container, such container is a .conductor of electricity and permits the application of an electric current to the contents of the package for sterilizing or chemical purposes. Furthermore, surgical sutures with a needle ready threaded thereon, may be packaged in accordance with my invention, the contour of the needle being shown on the package, this arrangement providing a convenient and sterile outfit for emergency operations.

While I have described the preferred form of my invention and indicated certain variations therein, it will be apparent that many other changes may be madewithin the scope of my invention as set forth in this specification.

I claim:

1. A sealed package comprising a container and an article entirely inclosed therein, a portion of the container being closely pressed about the article to cause an outline of the latter to appear in relief on a surface ofthe package, whereby the size and contour of the article may be. readily detertainer formed of sheets of. foil sealed together at their edges and an article entirely inclosed therein, a portion of the container being closely pressed about the article to cause an outline of the latter to appear in relief on a surface of the package, whereby the size and contour of the article ma be readily determinedby an inspection of the package.

4. A sterile needle package comprising a wrapper of sheet material completely inclosing a needle, the sheet mateiral on one face of the package being pressed closely about the needle to cause an outline thereof to stand out in relief, whereby the size and contour of the inclosed needle may be read upon an inspection of the package.

5. A sterile needle package comprising a wrapper of flexible sheet material completely inclosing a needle and a positioning sheet to which the needle is attached, the sheet material on one face of the package being pressed closely about the needle to cause an outline thereof to stand out in relief, where by the size and contour of the inclosed needle may be readily determined upon an inspection of the package.

6. A sterile needle package comprisin a foil sheet folded about a needle and sea ed to completely inclose the same, the foil layers being in facial contact, except as to those portions in direct contact with the needle, the non-contactin portions of the sheet layers accurately denlng in relief the size and contour of the inclosed needle, whereby the size and contour of the inclosed needle may be readily determined upon an inspection of the package.

7. A sterile needle package comprising 40 foil layers located upon opposite sides of and completely layers being p throughout th thelr entire ose portions in lmmedlate contact W1th inclosing a needle, the foil in facial contact area, except as to ressed the needle, the non-contacting portions of the layers forming a inclosed needle,

replica in relief of the determined upon inge. package comprising readily selparable layers of sheet material sealed at t e edges only-and inclosing a nee- ,dle between them, the layers'being pressed in facial contact. throughout their entire area, except as to those portions in immediate contact with the needle, the non-contacting portions of the layers forming a replica in relief of the inclosed needle,

whereby the size and sha pe of the needle may be determined upon inspection of the package.

9. A package similar articles,

metal foil having a partments adapted for surgical needles and including a container of plurality of sealed comto be separated from each other without destroying the sealing of any compartment, a needle in each-compartment,

the foil being closely pressed needle so as to ca about each use an outline of the needle to appear in relief on the surface of the compartment, whereby the ngs and St day of February size and contour the article may be readily determined'by an inspection of the pack age. city, in the count ate of New York, this 7t A. D. 1920. CHARLES T. DAVIS. 

